Island



B. C. LORING.

(No Model.)

PUZZLE.

No. 591,234. Patented 001;. 5,1897.

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PATENT FICE.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591 ,234, dated October 5, 1897.

Application filed Tune 26,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN CLARK LOR- ING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to puzzles; and the object thereof is to provide an improved device of this class which is simple in construction and operation and the solution of which is diflicult, but may be accomplished by the exercise of care, skill, and ingenuity in the manipulation of the device.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which' Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved puzzle, and Fig. 2 a central vertical section.

In the drawings forming part of this specification the separate parts of my improvement are designated by the same numerals of reference in each of the views, and in the practice of my invention I provide a puzzle which consists of a box or casing 5, which is provided with one transparent side 6 and a removable transparent cover 7.

The casing 5 is provided, centrally of the bottom thereof, with a cup-shaped receptacle 8, in which is mounted a bell or gong 9,- and placed within said casing is a spiral track or way 10, the upper end of which terminates in a horizontal arm 11 at one corner of the casing and the lower end of which rests upon or adjacent to the bottom of the box or casing 5, as shown at 12.

The spiral track or way 10 is provided with a groove 13 throughout its entire length, and said track or way is preferably composed of two wires 14, which are connected bya flexible strip 15, and the first or upper coil of said track or way is provided with an inwardly and radially directed branch 16, which is similarly made and which communicates with the groove 13, and at the inner end of which is a cup-shaped receptacle 17, and the said coils are also provided with four other branches 18, 19, 20, and 21, which are open at their inner ends and which extend inwardly 1897. SerialNo. 642,478. (No model.)

to about the center of the box or casing, and I I also provide a plurality of balls or spherical bodies 22, which equal in number the radial branches 16, 18, 19, 20, and 21 of the spiral track or way, and said balls or bodies are free to roll in said spiral track or way and also throughthe said radial branches 16, 18, 19, 20, and 21.

In the operation of the device the balls or bodies 22 are placed in the horizontal extension 11 of the spiral track or way, as shown in Fig. 1, and the device is then manipulated so as to pass said balls or bodies downwardly around said spiral track or way and in. such manner that the first ball or body will pass into the radial branch 16 and into the cupshaped receptacle 17, the second through the inwardly-directed branch 18, and the third through vthe branch 19, the fourth through the branch 20, and the fifth through the branch 21, and the device must be so manipulated that each of the last four balls will fall onto and sound the bell or gong 9.

If either of the balls should fail to pass through the branches of the spiral track or way, as above described, and roll down onto the bottom of the box or casing, the solution of the puzzle is not accomplished, and another effort must be made thereat. The said solution of my improved puzzle is exceedingly difficult, but may be accomplished by the exercise of care, skill, and ingenuity in the manipulation of the device, and it will be apparent that changes in and modifications of the construction herein described may be made without departing from the spririt of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A'pu'zzle comprising a box or casing provided with a transparent side, and a removable top, said box or casing being also pro vided at the bottom thereof, with a hell or gong, and with a spiral track or way which extends from the bottom to the top of said box or casing, said spiral track or way being also provided with a pluralityof inwardlydirected radial branches, and a plurality of balls or spherical bodies which equal in number said branches, substantially as shown and described.

TOO

2. A puzzle comprising a box or casing provided With a transparent side, and a removable top, said box or casing being also pro- Vid ed at the bottom thereof with a bell 0r gong, and with a spiral track or Way, which extends from the bottom to the top of said box or casing, said spiral track or Way being also provided With a plurality of inwardly-directed radial branches, and a plurality of balls or spherical bodies which equal in number said branches, all of said branches being open at their inner ends with the exception of the upper one Which is provided with a cup-shaped receptacle, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing Witnesses,this 23d day of June, 1897.

BENJAMIN CLARK LORING.

YVitnesses:

Rosn ELLA RooNEY, EDWARD LOTHROP MITCHELL. 

